Hyderabad, May 25: After prohibiting the use of plastic carry bags in the Secretariat, the government has now extended the ban to all the major temples in the State.
Endowment Commissioner J.S.V. Prasad issued a circular recently and instructed the Executive Officers of the temples to impose complete ban on use of plastic carry bags, polythene covers etc., for distribution of ‘prasadam’ and for various other purposes.
The Executive Officers may use alternative materials like paper bags or jute or cloth bags for distribution of prasadam etc., but they should take care not to increase the expenditure on non-plastic bags.
As plastic covers are non-biodegradable and thus harmful for environment and human health, the EOs of major temples should take the lead in adopting environment-friendly measures and motivate the small temples to follow suit, the circular said.
The EOs were also directed to hold a meeting with the shop keepers, those running hotels and other commercial outlets in the vicinity of temples and convey the government’s decision about the ban on plastic bags.
Mr. Prasad said that the EOs should strictly monitor all the shop keepers for ensuring that they stop procuring plastic bags.
Hoardings should be set up near the temples to educate public about the ban on plastic covers, Endowment Commissioner J.S.V. Prasad added.
–Agencies–